One of the major alterations was a shift in tone, transforming the film from its original conception into a much more whimsical and less violent narrative. Although Lee intended for the film to incorporate comedic elements, the final script exaggerated these far beyond his initial vision. The reimagined film, now titled “Circle of Iron,” commenced filming in 1977 and saw its release the subsequent year. With a cast featuring David Carradine, Christopher Lee, Roddy McDowall, and Eli Wallach, it was Bruce Lee’s influence—his envisioned performance, presence, and costume designs—that became the film’s most enduring legacy.

Throughout his career, Lee was known for his relentless work ethic, which led him to participate in numerous films, some of which were critically panned, including “Circle of Iron.” However, the film’s quirky nature and its intriguing backstory as a Bruce Lee passion project, which ultimately became one of his posthumous credits with a “story by” recognition, have cemented its status as a peculiar cult classic.

Interestingly, Christopher Lee did not take on the role Bruce Lee had originally envisioned for himself. Renowned for his versatility, Christopher Lee was not a martial arts hero. Instead, he embraced his strengths, portraying the film’s eccentric antagonist, Zetan. David Carradine stepped into the shoes of the multiple characters Bruce Lee intended to portray, including the enigmatic mentor known as “the blind man,” two martial arts leaders, and a spectral version of Death appearing in a dream of the film’s true protagonist, Cord, played by Jeff Cooper.

To be clear, Christopher Lee didn’t end up playing the part that Lee had planned for himself. The celebrated actor could play a lot of different roles, but a martial arts hero he was not. Instead, he leaned into what he did best by playing the movie’s eccentric antagonist, Zetan. It was David Carradine who stepped in to play the multiple characters that Bruce Lee was going to play — the mysterious mentor known only as “the blind man”; two different martial arts group leaders named the Monkeyman and Chang-Sha; and a version of Death that appears in the dream of the movie’s actual main protagonist, Cord (Jeff Cooper). 

It’s perhaps fitting that Carradine took over for Bruce Lee in “Circle of Iron.” Even though he was a martial arts actor who doesn’t even have a black belt, Carradine had already established himself as someone who could still get it done on screen thanks to starring in the TV series “Kung Fu” — a role that Lee was up for but that Carradine landed instead. Carradine would frequently revisit the martial arts genre throughout his own career, most famously as the title character in Quentin Tarantino’s two “Kill Bill” films. Meanwhile, Lee’s legendary filmography included turns as villains in the James Bond, “Star Wars,” and “The Lord of the Rings” franchises, not to mention his breakout role as the Hammer Films version of Dracula.